Soul Keeping

I just finished reading John Ortberg's book Soul Keeping.  I found it to be a good read with some thoughtful insights.  Below are a few quotes from this book.

• The most important thing in your life is not what you do; it's who you become.

• If your soul is healthy, no external circumstance can destroy your life.

• Your soul is what integrates, what connects, what binds together  your will (your intentions), your mind (your thoughts and feelings, your values and conscience), and your body( with all of its appetites, habits, and behavior) into a single life.  God designed us so that our choices, our thoughts and desires and our behavior would be in perfect harmony with each other and would be powered by an unbroken connection with God. A soul is healthy -well-ordered - when there is harmony between these three entities and God.  

• When the will has become enslaved by its need, when the mind has become obsessed with the object of its desire, when the appetite of the body has become master rather than servant, the soul is disordered. 

• To focus on my soul means to look at my life under the care and connection of God.  To focus on myself apart from God means losing awareness of what matters most. 

• What the soul truly desires is God.  We may try to fill that need with other things, but the soul will never be satisfied without God. 

• The soul thrives not through our accomplishments but through simply being with God.

• The soul was made to rest in God the way a tree rests in soil.

• You were made for soul-satisfaction, but you will only ever find it in God.  The soul craves to be secure.  The soul craves to be loved.  The soul craves to be significant, and we find these only in God in a form that can satisfy us.  That's why the psalmist says to God, "Because your love is better than life...my soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods."  Soul and appetite and satisfaction are dominant themes in the Bible - the soul craves because it is meant for God.  "My soul, find rest in God".

Silence is Dangerous

Yesterday, I wrote of the importance of finding solitude and a time to be silent before God.  It is a critical component to strengthening our prayer life. Solitude brings us to God and in solitude God brings us into a deeper level of experience with him.   In our busy, noisy world it is important that we can find space to  “be still” and be alone with our Lord.   Today, I want to declare that this practice of solitude comes with a warning.

Before you find that peace with God you may find yourself encountering some unexpected guests.   When I began to create this greater space of silence in my prayer life, instead of immediately finding the peace of God I found myself wrestling with demons.  In solitude you can encounter the dark side. Solitude and silence can bring to the surface inner conflicts, distress, and longings which we have never confronted or perhaps even recognized.  In my time of silence, many of my internal “demons” came a calling.  My negative and self-condemning thoughts, unfinished relational work, raw emotions, unforgiven actions, came to the forefront of my thoughts.  I have learned this is not uncommon during times of solitude.  Remember when Jesus retreated to the dessert, he too was visited by demons.  Spiritual writer Henri Nouwen describes how our initial experience in complete quiet and aloneness with God is likely to feel:

“Solitude is not a private therapeutic place. Rather, it is the place of conversion, the place where the old self dies and the new self is born…

In solitude I get rid of my scaffolding: no friends to talk with, no telephone calls to make, no meetings to attend, no music to entertain, no books to distract, just me – naked, vulnerable, weak, sinful, deprived, broken – nothing.  It is this nothingness that I have to face in my solitude, a nothingness so dreadful that everything in me wants to run to my friends, my work, and my distractions so that I can forget my nothingness and make myself believe that I am worth something.

But that is not all. As soon as I decide to stay in my solitude, confusing ideas, disturbing images, wild fantasies, and weird associations jump about in my mind like monkeys in a banana tree. Anger and greed begin to show their ugly faces. I give long, hostile speeches to my enemies and dream lustful dreams in which I am wealthy, influential, and very attractive – or poor, ugly, and in need of immediate consolation. Thus I try again to run from the dark abyss of my nothingness and restore my false self in all its vainglory…

The wisdom of the desert is that the confrontation with our own frightening nothingness forces us to surrender ourselves totally and unconditionally to the Lord Jesus Christ”. (The Way of the Heart, p. 27-28).

Again Nouwen writes, “The task is to persevere in my solitude, to stay in my cell until all my seductive visitors get tired of pounding on my door and leave me alone”.

We can survive solitude if we cling to Christ there.  Once we push through the initial discomfort and challenge of solitude we can find that it will bring us a deep and soul-full sense of well being that makes the struggle worthwhile.  Our solitude can bring to us the wonderful refreshment of God’s peace, “that transcends all understanding” and “will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”  (Philippians 4:7)

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us when we are in solitude with you. Free us from the chaos inside us as well as around us. May we cling to you who make all things new.

Shhh! Quiet!

While visiting the community of Taize we had the experience of hearing the bells of the church ring three times a day.  They were calling everyone to church for prayer.  Three times a day, everything in that community stopped:  the work, the Bible studies, the discussions.  Everything and everyone stopped for prayer.   Thousands of mainly young people from all over the world would come together to pray and sing together with the brothers of the community.  Scripture would be read in several languages.  In the middle of each service there would be a long period of silence.  Silence was a significant part of their prayer service.

Brother Rogers, founder of the Taize Community, writes, “When we try to express communion with God in words, we rapidly reach the end of our capacities.  That is why silence is so essential in discovering the heart of prayer.  Often God’s voice comes in a whisper, in a breath of silence.  Remaining in silence in God’s presence, open to the Spirit, is already prayer.”  The essence of prayer is to stop our activity and pause to be with the Living God.  Scripture commands us: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”. (Psalm 37:7) and “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). 

We are called to move into God’s presence and rest there; that alone is no easy task.  Our internal and external worlds are filled with noise and distractions.  Some studies suggest that the average person can only bear fifteen seconds of silence.  For this reason, silence is probably the most challenging and least experienced discipline among many Christians today.  Though it’s a struggle, being silent before God ushers us into His restful presence.  Henri Nouwen wrote, “without solitude it is almost impossible to live a spiritual life.  In solitude, we separate ourselves from people and things in order to attend to God.  In stillness, we quiet every inner and outer voice to listen for God’s sheer silence”.

Below is a practical guide Peter Scazzero, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality developed to assist in creating this time of silence.

Practical Guidelines:

Many that teach solitude and silence suggest daily times of silence before the Lord for 20 minutes. I find that beginning the practice with 2-10 minutes once a day is often a great start.  Give yourself lots of grace as you enter into this very new spiritual practice.

* Find a place where you can sit still and uninterrupted.

* Breathe slowly, deeply, and naturally. Offer yourself to God; let go of your cares and worries.

* Close your eyes or lower them to the ground.

* Allow yourself to sink into God’s loving presence.

* When you find yourself distracted, gently return to the Lord.

Dealing with Distractions:

The following have been helpful to me as my mind wanders:

1. When you find your mind wandering, let your breathing bring you back. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. As you breathe out, exhale all that is sinful, false, and not of Him.

2. I sometimes pray the Jesus Prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” This invites us to remember what our short, earthly lives are ultimately about.

3. I love to pray the Lord’s Prayer each day. When my mind wanders with distractions, I simply return to “Abba, Father” to reconnect me with Jesus. It also reminds me of my purpose in the stillness — I quiet myself to connect with Him.

Without expectation of results or revelation, we simply offer our time to be with God in stillness. We choose to make space for God. He is already present and waiting. Trust the Spirit to guide you into this practice and take you into deeper intimacy with God in stillness. Just remember that you do not need to do anything to capture God’s attention or love. You do not even need to speak. Simply be with God in love.

Snatching Time with God

As mentioned earlier, this sabbatical is different from a vacation or time off.  It is an time to disengage from the day to day operations of ministry to be renewed in a season of rest, prayer, reflection and study of God's word.   With this purpose in mind I realize I would be missing a great spiritual opportunity of this sabbatical gift  if I treated this time as an opportunity to lay on the couch watching TV or checking off the many "to-do" list around the house.    If I want to be renewed in my relationship with God then I need to spend time with God.  As John Ortberg counsels, "The soul thrives not through our accomplishments but through simply being with God".   Here are the commitments I am making to develop this time to be with God.  I share these with you in case you may want to join me in making  similar commitments.  Also posting my commitments on this blog helps to hold me accountable to what I write.

First, because it would be easy for me to get caught up in watching TV (not that there is that much good to watch, it can become mindless activity that steals the day away), I have made a commitment to fast from daytime TV.

Second, I will commit myself to begin my day and end my day in deliberate prayer.

In 1535, an old friend of Martin Luther – his barber, in fact, a man named Peter Beskendorf – asked Luther for counsel concerning prayer. How could he deepen his prayer life? How could he pray effectively, and keep things fresh along the way?  Luther responded with a little treatise titled, How One Should Pray, for Master Peter the Barber. The booklet is simple and straightforward, full of practical pastoral advice.  Luther reminded his friend “to let prayer be the first business of the morning and the last at night. Guard yourself carefully against those false, deluding ideas which tell you, ‘Wait a little while. I will pray in an hour; first I must attend to this or that.’ Such thoughts get you away from prayer into other affairs which so hold your attention and involve you that nothing comes of prayer for that day.” 

You would think a minister like me would hold to a regular time of morning prayer.   However, I have found that I can become distracted by a task that needs to be done, a visitation that needs to be made, a meeting that needs attending, or a sermon that needs to be written,  and I say to myself,  "Wait a little while.  I will pray in an hour;  I first must attend to this or that."  Before I know it the day is done.   I do offer prayers throughout the day often on the run.  However I doubt the depth and efficacy of prayer when it is always on the run.  There is great value to be gained by having a deliberate time to be alone with God. 

Also I have learned that it can be helpful to find a place for prayer.   If you find a specific place, somewhere that is quite and comfortable with little distractions,  both your mind and your body will begin to acclimate to this time of prayer.  This place, when frequented for prayer, can become a holy place. 

Third, I will commit myself to becoming more God aware.   I will begin each day by challenging myself: Can I focus my soul on God and surrender to his presence throughout the day?  Can I keep God in my mind today, regardless of what I am doing?  Can I affirm with the psalmist who says "I have set the Lord always before me"?   I don't know how successful I will be in this commitment but I look forward to what I may see as I deliberately look for God throughout the day. 

When we're deeply in love with someone we think about them when we get up in the morning and when we go to sleep at night - we think of them all the time!  Think about how this can happen with Jesus.  As we think about him more I would imagine we will grow more and more in love with him!  What a great thought!

God, you are my God, I am seeking you,

my soul is thirsting for you,

my flesh is longing for you,

a land parched, weary and waterless;

I long to gaze on you in the Sanctuary, 

and to see your power and glory.

Your love is better than life itself,

my lips will recite your praise;

all my life I will bless you,

in your name lift up my hands

Psalm 63:1-4

  

Home Sweet Home

We made it safely home after a wonderful experience abroad.   As enjoyable as our time away was, there is nothing as comforting as your own bed.  

Heading Home

This trip was an opportunity of a lifetime in which I am very grateful.  As great as traveling overseas is, it also has its moments of annoyances and frustrations.  I must admit I was getting very impatient with traveling through the airport.  We waited in line to check our luggage, only to get into another line to go through security, then we get into another line to go through passport control.  Finally we get into a line to wait to board our plane.  I have real empathy for all who regularly fly the "friendly" skies.    In today's world air travel has become a test of perseverance and patience.

As my impatiences was growing an insight hit me.  Why become impatient?  I had no control over the movement of the line.  Impatiences only causes irritability which benefits no one.  As I began to refocus and practice patience I found it opened me up to my surroundings in a much more positive way.  The tension within my body began to lessen.  I found that the wait was actually restful and less stressful.
 As I was waiting, I was reminded that patiences is indeed a virtue, or as Paul reminds us in Galatians 5, a wonderful fruit of the Spirit.  When I travel I will have to be sure I have packed along with my toothbrush plenty of patiences.

A prayer for traveling.
Into the hands of others, Almighty God, today I fly, and in doing so I give my care and well-being into the hands of others.  May I be courteous as they serve me at check-in, though security screening, while boarding the aircraft, during the flight, on arrival, through passport control, collecting my bag and going through customs.  May I both see and offer love in every task, given in service and received with gratitude, through your love shown to me.  

London

The final leg of our journey- London.  Big Ben, the London Bridge, fish & chips for lunch, bangers & mash with peas for dinner, Buckingham Palace, double decker buses, changing of the guard, Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace and of course a shopping trip to Harrods all made for a bloody good time.  

Westminster Abbey

Buckingham Palace

The Parliament Building

Kensington Palace

Hyde Park, which covers 350 acres

With more than a million square feet of space, seven floors and 330 departments, Harrods is one of the world's largest department stores.

Staffa

While at Iona we took a boat excursion to the uninhabited island of Staffa which includes the famous Fingal's Cave. The island became internationally renowned through Felix Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave).  He wrote that the inspiration for his piece of music came from a visit to the island in 1829, while he was standing in the cave listening to the roar of the waves.   The cliffs and grassy slopes of this little island provide nesting sites for various seabirds including the puffin.

Prayer of Saint Columba

Iona, Scotland

After taking a plane, a train, a ferry, a bus, & another ferry, we finally reached our destination of Iona, Scotland. Iona is a small Isle off the west coast of Scotland,  It is only 1.5 miles wide by 3 miles long, with a population of around 120 permanent residents.  Despite this, Iona has a large presence in the history of our Christian faith.  It is well known as being "the cradle of Christianity" resulting from the Christian mission of the Irish Saint Columba who came to Iona during the 6th century A.D with twelve of his followers.  He built a monastery which became his outpost to bring Christianity to Scotland and Northern England.

Almost all who visit recognize that somehow this sacred Isle is set apart from other earthly sites.  After visiting Iona during the 1950's, two spiritual seekers, George and Helen Sandwith, relate: "What is the magic in the name Iona which lures men and women from the far corners of the earth to the tiny rocky island off the west coast of Scotland? Surely not the scenery, for there is more magnificence on the mainland of Scotland. It must be something deeper. Something knocking on the heart which speaks of mystery and holiness, of dreams and truths which have outlived time....There is an indescribable atmosphere in Iona as if a 'Presence' dwells in the hallowed soil of the tiny island which has been washed by the waters of prayer down through the ages. Hallowed and blessed by St. Columba and countless Christians for about 1,400 years, as well as by those who were there long before St. Columba, is it any wonder that an aura of spiritual peace surrounds the island (The Miracle Hunters, 1959).

 Iona is often described as a "thin place," where the material and spiritual worlds seem separated only by the thinnest of veils.  As I wandered around this sacred spot, drawing in the extraordinary beauty and peace of this place, I would wholeheartedly agree.  Iona is a "thin place".